Geography, Climate, & Temperatures

Mileage from major U.S. cities to the County’s seat, Minden, NV.

Major U.S. Cities

Miles

Reno, NV

46

Las Vegas, NV

439

San Francisco, CA

222

Los Angeles, CA

564

Phoenix, AZ

753

Denver, CO

1093

New York, NY

2762

Geography
The county covers an approximate area of 751 square miles and is located in the western portion of the state. Douglas County borders the State of California to the west, Lyon County to the east, and the state capital of Carson City to the north. Included within the County's boundaries are portions of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, Lake Tahoe, Topaz Lake, and the Carson and Walker rivers. Since statehood, the boundaries of Douglas County have only been realigned two times: between Douglas County and Ormsby County (now Carson City) in 1965, and between Douglas County and Lyon County in 1967.

Climate Elevations within the County vary from a low of 4,625 feet on the valley floor to a high of 9,500 feet at East Peak. The proximity of the Carson Valley to the Sierra Nevada Mountains creates one of the most comfortable daily temperature ranges in the continental United States. Generally, the climate is arid, with warm summers, moderate winters, and cool evening temperatures year around.